open

[carrotkeeper]

who: Iris Amicitia and you!
what: Searching for lost homework, shopping, bribing chocobos, the works.
when: Throughout July
where: Riverview, hydroponic gardens and beyond
warnings: None! Will add as needed


i.Lost homework

[Sometime during the first week of July, Iris can be found all over Riverview clutching a dirty, torn up piece of paper in her hand. People who glance at it might find it looks suspiciously like homework. This very important business leads her to look under café tables, with a quick apology from her if your character happens to be there, and behind cushions at restaurants.

You might even catch her later in the day, staring into a trashcan, arm hovering above the top. She’s starting to question her life choices and this could go either way. Please stop her from going this far.]

Ugh, ew. There’s no way I could have put it in there...right?

[She squints at the can and her arm stills. She did toss out the contents of her bag in here earlier, thinking they were just old receipts. It could be in there. Is it worth it? She just doesn’t know. It might be easier for her to contact the teachers, but it’s due tomorrow. It’s all due tomorrow.]

It's gotta be somewhere else.

[Is what she says, as she continues to stand in the same position she's been in for the last five minutes.]

ii.Hydroponics garden

[Anyone walking through or near the gardens will be stopped by Iris. She’s got a clipboard and a carrot pen to write with! This is very serious business, obviously!]

You got a second? I promise it won’t take long and you’ll get a free tour out of the deal!

iii.Shopping adventure

[After the homework debacle is over, she decides to go to the market the next day. She trudges through the crowd with both hands gripping two large, oversized and near tearing bags. She doesn’t have enough money to buy whatever she wants, but she certainly gave it the old college try by the looks of it. Every couple minutes she stops on the sidewalk and sets down the bags to give her fingers a break. It’s going to be a long walk back to housing.

Unfortunately for whoever happens to be nearby, she decides risking the walk back alone just isn't worth it and scans the crowd to pick out a friendly face to ask this next question to.]

Oh, hey! Could you please help me out?

iv.Wark games

[When she heard chocobos were stampeding around town, Iris decided to take it upon herself to help. Given her experience with them, she thought she would be perfect for this mission and set out to capture some. Except, she found she couldn't catch them on foot and they were too strong for her to outright grab, so she's approaching this from another angle.

In the park, your character will find her slowly backing up, throwing a vegetable trail in front of her as she does so. Lettuce, carrots, and various greens litter the ground and the reason why? Two small chocobos are munching on everything on this makeshift path. All seems to be going well until she shoves her hand in her bag and notes it feels particularly empty. Whoops.]

Uh oh. You guys aren't gonna be too happy about this.

[They're starting to squawk pretty loud. Someone help, please!]

Wildcard

[She can also be found at the middle school or on floor 7. If there’s another option you want to go with, a personalized starter or whatever just hit me up via PM or drowninginpears

Comments

[carrotkeeper]

That's your first?

[To a teenage girl, this is unheard of. Especially when she can still vividly recall getting her first phone back in Crown City and within five minutes, she had snapped a selfie to her school friends. Knowing someone has gone their life without doing one is just as tragic as not knowing what taffy is. It seems like there's much she has to show Re-L.

The phone back in her hands, she inspects the photo, acting like this is a huge deal. She doesn't need to be this way, Re-L isn't a kid anymore, but she can't help it. She makes a quiet 'hm' noise and presses save. Approved. It's perfect. With a smile on her face, she hops back to her feet and extends a hand out to help her new friend up.]

It's great! You're a real natural, you know. We'll have to take another one at the next store.

[realimperfect]

Yes, though I guess that's a bit out of the ordinary. [ Just judging by Iris' reaction, at least. She's twenty now, still learning things, but it's not necessarily all bad. She thinks, in a way, she's learning how to live all over again and it's not really all that bad. Other than the fact that she, simply, doesn't understand the appeal of a lot of it.

Perhaps she'd learn it with time, who knew. Iris' hand is taken with a little appreciative nod, making sure that she doesn't have anything unpleasant stuck to her from the step before they move on.Like a nervous tick she's making sure her clothing and everything is in place - some habits die hard. ]

Are we really going to look different from store to store? [ Her brow arches up, a bit bemused by all of this but.. it isn't the worst. She's definitely dealt with worse than photos. ] That may be a bit too many squats for me, by the end of the day.

[ And that is a bold faced lie, considering her exercise regime, but it's worth it to tease her. ]

Do you think this place may have a shop where they'd have clothes for the masquerade? I guess they'll be expecting us all in something bold and outlandish.

[carrotkeeper]

Come on, a little exercise never hurt anyone.

[She slides the phone back into her pocket. Her friend may not know this yet, but she'll be taking those pictures. How else are they going to tell how outfits look on them? Dressing room mirrors are deceiving. The phone is all-knowing. It seems clear to her that selfies will be necessary for this expenditure.

Speaking of the masquerade, her eyes light up and she takes a few steps forward, pointing further into the mall.]

You bet they do! I've got a great place in mind. Just follow me-I'll lead you right to it.

[The dance is an event she's heard people casually talk about around housing and without any concrete plans of going herself, she's eager to help out someone who will be.]

So, do you have a date? We'll have to see what they're wearing too.

[Because matching would be cute, obviously.]

[realimperfect]

Tch, I think I do enough of them on my own time. [ Not to mention during Gladio's training, but hey, that she was at least getting used to. her strange strength for her size and build had been a little bit of a learning curve, but thankfully not too much of a curve ball to learn how to get around. Mostly it just meant more reps and resistance to at least provide a little bit of a challenge for her. ]

Oh? You've been window shopping already, then? [ Honestly, now she's just got to get her fashion in order. There'd be nothing worse than looking like a fool at the first 'big' party she's ever attended in Riverview. She's made for this, after all. ] Is everything bright and colorful or are there options that aren't better suited for a dark club?

I'm going by myself. [ No need for matching fashions, Iris. ] Are you planning on going?

[carrotkeeper]

I'm gonna wait and see what Gladdy does. Don't wanna cramp his style if he goes.

[That way he gets time to himself and doesn't have to worry about his little sister wandering around. He's always looking out for her, even if the situation isn't dangerous. It can be distracting if he's trying to have a good time. Plus, it gives her an opportunity to clean up the room and catch up on homework.]

But yeah, I've been to this mall before. There's a lot of variety. You'd look great in those bright outfits.

[To prove her point, she walks over to one of the stores and taps on the glass. Look at that bright yellow dress! Though there's many outfits to choose from, judging from the multiple mannequins set up.]

The stuff in here is perfect for you.

[realimperfect]

Who is Gladdy and why do his plans really matter that much? [ Really, how many people around here dos she know with a name like Gladio? Perhaps she's a bit dense, or maybe just wants the actual confirmation. The idea of siblings is still so strange to her, considering children were a very rare thing in Romdau period.. most children were only children simply because there was no need for multiple citizen places to be filled at one time. Of course she doesn't elaborate on any of this.. it's all a little strange to most people around here and explaining it over and over again is exhausting. ]

Being so pale I don't think bright colors do a whole lot for me, honestly. I've only ever really done black and jewel tones... [ Mainly at Iggy's insistence, but the autoreiv had never steered her wrong. She had a very specific coloring, after all. ] ... I'll have to be very discerning without Iggy to help.

[ There's a bit of a look of plain 'no' as she points at a sunny yellow dress. She believes she's already luminous enough without dressing like the sun, Iris, please - ]

I think the yellow may suit you better, though - [ She's already spotted out a section of darker colors, gesturing for the younger girl to follow her in. ]

- There looks to be something up both our alleys further in here. I'll leave trying on the yellow dress to you.

[carrotkeeper]

Gladdy's my brother! Oh, guess you might not know him. He's a big guy-

[To show how big he is, she stands on her tip toes as she follows Re-L in, holding her arm up as high as she can and then extends both her arms out. This is a very accurate representation of her brother's appearance, obviously.]

-like that. Covered in tattoos. Long hair. You know, I'll just introduce you sometime.

[With a huge smile, she hurries over to the darker shades. Re-L has the kind of appearance that makes her look good in everything and Iris has a difficult time not pulling out ten dresses for her to try on immediately. She'll settle for the five instead.]

Here, try these first!

[realimperfect]

[ She doesn't know why, but it's the exact moment Iris starts standing on her toes to express how tall and wide her brother is that it all snaps in to place in her head - Gladio. All those expert years of training to keep her face in check come in handy, all of a sudden, poker face absolutely complete as a bit of realization dawns in her mind. Here she was, palling around with Iris, when...

Well, of course this would be her life. Why would it ever be easy? Not that Iris could tell just by looking at her (she hopes) that she's managed to entwine her life in to hers in some strange way she'll never willingly tell her, but. There's a quiet, momentary panic that's not at all outwardly evident before she confirms, totally dead flat in tone : ]

Gladio. I do morning training with him, when I can. [ Play it cool, Re-L. No one knows by looking at you. She's leisurely picking through dresses, admiring things with particularly intricate work on them, occasionally pulling one out to loo at it more closely. She's sure a few might have to be tailored if she chooses them - some look a little like they might be too short for her. Not a new problem, really.

Re-L betrays a little surprise when she's got five dresses offered to her, putting her hand out to take them after a spare moment. ]

I should pick out a few for you, too.

[carrotkeeper]

[Iris is an astute girl and notes the pause, looking up to see what the deal is. When the explanation comes, she accepts it easily enough with a smile. The pause she attributes to Re-L remembering who Gladio actually is. The secret's still safe for now and she doesn't pursue it further.]

You weren't kidding about getting enough exercise earlier. Training with Gladdy can be tough. Guess you don't need an introduction after all.

[Tough, but efficient. He's a great trainer and she briefly entertains the thought of joining them both in a training session one morning. It might be fun. That's an idea she'll keep to herself, for now, and slides the hangers onto Re-L's arm so she looks like she's mimicking a rack.]

Okay! I like...short ones! Like where my skirt is.

[She motions to the hem of her outfit and straightens up to shuffle through the rack again.]

This is gonna be so much fun. I can't wait to see you in those outfits.

[realimperfect]

[ The nickname 'Gladdy' still catches her a little bit off-guard for some reason - probably because it's just .. cute enough for such a large and muscled person that it seems funny. Not something she'd ever mention to him, probably, lest he give her more sets to do or something to that effect but it's noted should she ever need to use it for whatever reason. Still, the comment about getting enough exercise it met with a bit of a laugh and a nod, happy that she's gotten her point proven.

Gladio has a way with making sure she'll regret asking him to train her at least once a week. ]

That's not to say that I can't use the kick in the ass to stay in shape, some times, just.. he has a way with making sure I'm actually working.

[ Thankfully they're back on to dresses, Re-L adjusting slightly how the dresses sit over her arm. There's a few color options in there, thankfully none too obnoxiously bright, and she'll at least try them on to see if Iris was on to something with the color thing. A short dress makes sense - Iris is smaller, after all, younger too, and so Re-L moves through the racks, finding one or two with hems slightly too long, but putting them over her arm anyway.

Tailors were a thing, after all. She offers them Iris' way, for now avoiding the racks of black dresses for both of their sakes. ]

Try these on. They're a little longer but there's tailors around here that can fix them.. I think a good bit will be too short for me in heels, so at the very least I'll be looking one up for posterity's sake..

[carrotkeeper]

That sounds like Gladdy alright. If you need him to let up, just give me a call. I'll make sure to talk to him.

[The smile on her face hasn't faltered once since their arrival into the store and now, with Re-L handing her some outfits, she's beaming. She's no stranger to shopping with people, but the abrupt destruction of her home and the loss of many of her friends made her realize that her day to day, simple life, was completely over.

It might be silly, but having Re-L pass those outfits to her reminds her of a time she thought she could never get back. Riverview is an amazing place. With a little hop, she steps away from the rack, holding one of the dresses up and spinning in a circle to see the way it moves. Definitely fluttery, pretty and easy on the eyes.

She's just so happy.]

Oh, I love this! Bet you could fight in it too and look good doing it.

[A little long, but like Re-L said before-tailors are a thing.]

The short ones would look great on you! You could really pull it off, no problem. Just try a couple on first before you give up on them.

[realimperfect]

It's not all bad, admittedly. If I wasn't challenge I would've gotten bored and stopped showing up by now. [ Well, maybe. The fact stood that she'd been training the best she knew how, but had also been going a little bit wild with the food stuffs since she was back in a place with actual food. Bajikan except constantly.

Still, the offer to have him let up is admirable, enough to spark a little bit of one of those sideways smiles in the older woman. ] I appreciate it, but I really don't have a problem with telling him when I've had enough.

[ The virtues of being allowed to tell anyone anything she wanted for the first decade of her life, really. Shopping with anyone but Iggy was a rarity for Re-L prior to being here, but she appreciates Iris' vigor. It helps to make everything, even her, feel a bit more lively about shopping. ]

If fighting in it is your thing.. [ She's a little bemused, at that, unsure how to take Iris when she's talking fighting in a more formal dress. ]

The only problem with having so much leg is that, eventually, most things just tend to look a little too short on you. Well, put it this way, a little too short for an occasion. [ Considering she doesn't seem to have a problem with shorts at the moment to avoid the heat, no matter how short they appear on her long frame. ]

I'll try them, anyway. Most long dresses would have to be made longer, too, so i think either way I'm doomed to edit something.